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Edward VI remains a complex historical figure. Often overshadowed by his father, Henry VIII, or his sister, Elizabeth I, it can be difficult to get a good grasp of his reign, and – perhaps more importantly – of his character. Edward was a young king, resulting in many historians giving him the nickname ‘the boy king’. He received an incredible education, and when he was just a prince, he was very close to both of his sisters. His attitude towards power deserves to be examined further. Historians have also claimed that he was overshadowed by his ministers: his uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and later, after his downfall, by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (who was the instigator of Lady Jane Grey’s rise and fall). A good way to approach a study of Edward VI is to discuss these two historical figures, who also played important political roles at his court.